Amazon Publishing

Amazon Publishing’s head honcho in New York, Larry Kirshbaum, plans to leave the company next year. The company is also reportedly scaling back its publishing presence here, something it denies. But it’s undeniable that Amazon’s original plan to publish traditional fiction and nonfiction like a major East Coast publisher has not gone as planned.

Amazon Publishing is launching Kindle Worlds, a publishing platform that lets authors sell fan fiction based on properties like Gossip Girl. Amazon Publishing retains the rights to the works and will set the prices.

Amazon is expanding its children’s publishing division with two new imprints. “Two Lions” will publish picture books, chapter books and middle-grade fiction, while “Skyscape” is aimed at teens. The imprints’ first titles will be published in spring 2013.

Amazon will begin publishing original books in Europe, the company announced in a letter to literary agents Wednesday. Victoria Griffith, Amazon’s head of West Coast publishing, will move to Luxembourg, while Larry Kirshbaum will assume leadership of both the Seattle and New York imprints.

After Amazon Publishing titles showed up in Barnes & Noble stores around the country, I’m hearing the bookseller told the stores to pull the books. Barnes & Noble insists that its policy not to carry Amazon titles in its stores has not changed.

Barnes & Noble had claimed it wouldn’t carry Amazon Publishing titles in its “store showrooms,” but it looks as if the chain has capitulated: At least two of Amazon New York’s titles are in stock in Manhattan-area stores now.

In a letter to literary agents, Amazon Publishing VP Jeff Belle shares sales numbers for some of the company’s titles and says that authors who previously worked with other publishers — like Barry Eisler — are doing better under Amazon.

Amazon Publishing has acquired about 1,000 romance, Western and horror titles from defunct publisher Dorchester’s backlist. Amazon will pay Dorchester authors any outstanding royalties and divide the books among its various West Coast imprints.